Dear Friends,
Imagine how happy your friend would be if you were to purchase them a year-long subscription to all the pub quizzes I write in 2026! This is possible through Patreon.
I had been writing in my head a long newsletter about grief and perseverance during dark times, but as I am still processing, I am turning instead to one of my favorite singers of carols, if not Christmas carols, and that is Walt Whitman:
I Hear America Singing
I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear,
Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong,
The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam,
The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work,
The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck,
The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter singing as he stands,
The wood-cutter’s song, the ploughboy’s on his way in the morning, or at noon intermission or at sundown,
The delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at work, or of the girl sewing or washing,
Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else,
The day what belongs to the day—at night the party of young fellows, robust, friendly,
Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs.
Happy holidays to all of you. I hope you get to enjoy some time off with your family or with whatever laborers and compatriots you get to spend a well-earned break.
It’s 64 degrees outside as I write this on the 17th of December, so I hope all of you will join me outside so we can open this meteorological gift together. I invite you to join the regulars and irregulars for the social event of the week featuring 31 questions on a variety of topics you should know something about, especially because we won’t see each other again until December 31st. Today’s pub quiz is 844 words long, if we include the answers.
In addition to topics raised above and below, expect questions tonight on the following: Christmas lights, grand chronologies, strong football records, Hazels, Carrs, portable happiness, Colorado records, military physicians, early Ph.Ds, diamond awards, MVPs, organs, jobs, randomness, tall mountains, New York City, inspirations, departures, hours of light and dark, herbivorous mammals, collars, Oceans, Pew Research polls, ports, grief, young adult novels, terminals, beginnings and endings, comedies, royalty, source materials, spellers, pop charts, U.S. states, geography, current events, and Shakespeare.
For more Pub Quiz fun, please subscribe via Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/c/yourquizmaster.
Thanks to all the new players joining us at the live quizzes and to all the patrons who have been enjoying fresh Pub Quiz content. We have over 90 Patreon members now, including the new paid subscribers Bobby, Esther, James, Damian, Jim, and Meebles! I should write a question for Bobby. Thanks also to new subscribers Prescott, Bill and Diane, Tamara, Megan, Michael, Janet, Jasmine, Joey, Carly, The X-Ennial Falcons, and The Nevergiveruppers! Every week I check the Patreon to see if there is someone new to thank. Maybe next week it will be you! I also thank The Original Vincibles, Summer Brains, Still Here for the Shakesbeer, The Outside Agitators, John Poirier’s team Quizimodo, Gena Harper, the conversationally entertaining dinner companions and bakers of marvelous and healthy treats, The Mavens, whose players or substitutes keep attending, despite their ambitious travel schedules and the cost of the aforementioned avocado. I appreciate the Mavens’ kind words to me in the newspaper. Thanks in particular to my paid subscribers on Substack. Thanks to everyone who supports the Pub Quiz on Patreon. I would love to add your name or that of your team to the list of pub quiz boosters. Also, I sometimes remember to add an extra hint on Patreon. I appreciate your backing this pub quiz project of mine!
I also want to recognize those who visit my Substack the most often, including Luna, Jean, Ron, Myrna, and Maria, to whom I send sustained compassion.
Best,
Dr. Andy
Questions from last week:
- Books and Authors. Who wrote the 1952 classic American novel Invisible Man?
- Sports. The current NBA leader in effective field goal percentage and true shooting percentage is the 23-year-old center Ryan Kalkbrenner. For what Southeast Division team does Kalkbrenner play?
- Shakespeare. Shakespeare died at the same age as Abraham Lincoln and George Orwell. With a two-year margin of error, tell me that age.
Happy Holidays from our family to yours!